Door holding devices



July 18, 1961 R- SCHON'TZER 2,992,452

DOOR HOLDING DEVICES Filed June 25, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 fi a /lr roRNsys July 18, 1961 R. l. scHNlTzER DOOR HOLDING DEVICES 4 Sheets-Sheet. 2

Filed June 23, 1958 INVENTOR. /PaoQ/ PH I Scam/fzs@ July 18, 1961 R. SCHON-[2ER 2,992,452

DOOR HOLDING DEVICES Filed June 23. 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 July 18, 1961 R. l. scHoNlTzi-:R 2,992,452

DooR HOLDING DEVICES Filed June 25, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet- 4 INVENTOR. A200 0L w II .5c/famme@ BY of?, f,

nited States Patent 2,992,452 DUUR HOLDING DEVICES Rudolph l. Schonitzer, Shaker Heights, Ohio, assigner to Lisle W. Menzimer, Rockford, Ill., trustee Filed .lune 23, 1958, Ser.,No. 743,583 23 Claims. (Cl. 16-141) This invention relates to door holding devices of a type appropriate for automobile doors and the like which have a normal tendency to fall shut. Door holding devices of this kind can be referred to` as infinite-position holding devices because they act to hold the door in any open position to which it is moved and left standing, but still permit the door to be readily moved to` any other desired position.

This application is related, as to subject matter and through common ownership, to co-pending application Serial No. 726,235, filed April 3, 1958, and tol co-pending application Serial No. 743,587 led June 23, 1958.

More specifically, this invention aims to provide a novel infinite-position door holding means or device which also embodies other or secondary holding means, preferably a detent type of holding means, for releasably holding the door in a predetermined or assured restV position.

As another of its objects, this invention provides novel door holding means `comprising holding members having relative traversing engagement with each other and co-operatively` effective for holding the' door in any open position to which it is moved, and wherein an irregularity or detent means on one of the members and located at one point of the path of the relative traversing engagement is engageable by follower means located on or formed by a portion of the other member for releasably holding the door in the assured rest position.

A further object is to provide novel door holding means comprising co-operating relatively movable holding members, one of which comprises a plastic portion forming the path of the relative traversing movement and including a detent portion and the other member comprises follower means, preferably in the form of plunger means, engageable with the detent means for releasably holding the door in the assured rest position.

Still another object is to provide novel door holding means of the character above indicated and wherein the detent means of the plastic portion comprises carrier means thereon surmountable by the follower or plunger means.

This invention also provides such a novel door holding means wherein one of the co-operating holding mern` bers has a recess therein and the detent means is formed by or includes a plastic portion deformable into the recess by the plunger means.

This invention further provides novel door holding means of the character above indicated wherein a pair of co-operating holding members forming a primary or infinite-position holding means comprises a ramp means connected with a door support structure as by being located on a hinge bracket and the other of the co-operating members comprises a follower means or plunger slidable on the ramp means and connected with the door as by being located on a hinge arm, and wherein detent means forming a secondary holding means and engageable by the follower means for releasably holding the door in an assured rest position is located on the ramp means, preferably at a point adjacent one end of the path of the sliding movement of the follower means thereon.

This invention likewise provides novel door holding means comprising ramp and follower members having a relative traversing movement and co-operatively eective to produce a holding action for holding the door farice can be readily incorporated in door holding means of the kind' referred to above. l

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent in the following detailed description and in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specifica= tion and wherein,

FIG. l is a partial side elevation of an automobile body having the door holding means of the present invention applied thereto;

FIG. 2 is a partial horizontal section taken on sectionline 2--2 of FIGS. v1 and 4 and showing the doorholding means on a larger scale;

FIG. 3 is a partial transverse section similar to that of FIG. 2 but showing the door in an open position;

FIG. 4 is a partial vertical section taken on section line 4 4 of FIG. 2 and showing the door-closed condition of the holding means;

FIG. 5 is another partial vertical section` taken on section line 5-5 of FIG. 2 and also showing the doorclosed condition of the holding means;

FIG. 6 is a partial transverse vertical section taken` on section line 6 6 of FIG. 3 and showing the dooropen condition of the holding means;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a modified form of door' holding means and showing the same detached from the vehicle and in the door-closed condition;

FIG. 8 is a similar plan view but showing the dooropen condition of the modified holding means;

FIG. 9 is a vertical section taken on section line 9-9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on section line 10-10 of FIG. 8;

FIG. l1 is a larger-scale fragmentary plan View corresponding with a portion of FIG. 7 but showing another modified form of door holding means; and" FIG. l2 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on Section line 12--12 of FIG. 11.

Proceeding now with a more detailed description of the door holding means of this invention and the application thereof to an automobile or the like, FIGS. l to 6 inclusive of the drawings show such door holding means 10 associated with door and door support structures 11 and 12 of an automobile body 13. The door 11 is swingable on a substantially vertical hinge axis provided by the hinge pins 14 of a pair of vertically spaced hinges 15 and 16 and comprises a hollow door structure having spaced outer and inner side walls 17 and 18 and a hinge anchorage means 19 located in the chamber or space 20 between such walls. The door 11 also includes an upright edge wall 21 which faces toward the support structure 12 when the door is in its closed position as shown in FIGS. l and 2.

The door support structure `12 is here shown as being an upright doorframe portion of the automobile body 13 comprising spaced outer and inner side walls 23 and 24 and having a chamber or recess 25` therein between the planes of such outer and inner walls. An upright anchorage wall 26V for attachment of the hinges 15 and 16 extends between the side walls and faces rearwardly of the vehicle and toward the door opening. The support structure 124 may also include an upright edge wall 27 spaced rearwardly from the upright; Aarte'horage 2,992,4a2 M Y e Wall 26 and with respect to which the upright edge wall 21 of the door 11 occupies an opposed position when the door is fully closed. The upright edge wall 27 can be omitted from the support structure 12 but, when used, is provided with suitable clearance openings 2S therein for the hingesV 15 and 16.

The design of the automobile body 13 is here shown as being a conventional one in which the hinge pins of the hinges 15 and 16 provide a substantially upright hinge axis 30 for the door 11 and which axis is inclined from the vertical. The direction and extent of this inclination of the hinge axis are usually such that the door 11 has a normal tendency to fall shut when it has been manually swung to an open position and released by the operator. The door holding means or device develops or produces a primary holding force or function which counteracts this tendency of the door to fall shut and, as explained in greater detail hereinafter, provides a substantially balanced condition for the door such that the door will be held in any open position to which it has been moved but will nevertheless be readily movable to any other of its positions to which the operator may wish to move it. As will appear more fully hereinafter, the present invention provides a secondary holding means or detent means 31 in the holding device 10 for developing or producing a secondary holding function which releasably holds the door 11 in an assured rest position.

The holding device 10 comprises cooperating ramp and follower members 32 and 33 which are associated with the door and door support structures 11 and 12, and which constitute a primary or main holding means and produce the primary door holding function mentioned just above. In the door holding device 10 as herein disclosed, the ramp member 32 is associated with the door support structure 12 and the follower member 33 is associated with the door 11. The holding device 1u is also disclosed herein as being associated with the hinge means of the door 11, in this case the upper hinge thereof. In the embodiment of the door holding device 10 herein disclosed, the ramp member 32 is associated with the portion of the hinge 15 which is attached to the door support structure 12 and the follower member 33 is associated with the portion of the hinge which is attached to the door 11.

The hinge 15 comprises a hinge bracket 35 mounted on the door support structure 12, and a hinge arm 36 attached to the door `11 and pivotally connected with the hinge bracket by the hinge pin ,14. The hinge bracket 35 is here shown as being a die-formed metal member, preferably a stamped sheet metal member, having upper and lower at plate portions Vcomprising the anges 3'7 and 38 and an upright attaching Wall 39 connecting such flanges and providing for attachment of the bracket to the anchorage wall 26 by suitably located screws 4t). The bracket 35 also comprises a formed knee portion 42 on, or adjacent to, the flange 3S and forming an anchorage for the lower end of the hinge pin 14.

The hinge arm 36 is here shown as being a die-formed metal member, preferably a stamped sheet metal member, having the form of a channel-shaped bell crank lever. More specifically, the hinge arm 36 comprises upper and lower longitudinal flanges 44 and 45 forming the sides of a longitudinal channel recess 46, and an upright wall or web 47 connecting the flanges and forming ythe back Wall of the channel recess. At the front end thereof, the hinge arm is provided with an eye portion 4S which is received between the upper ange 37 and the knee portion 42 of the bracket 35 and is pivoted on the hinge pin 14. The rear end of the hinge arm 36 projects from the door support structure 12 and into the chamber 20 of fthe door 11, and has the door mounted thereon by suitable attaching screws 49 which connect the anchorage means 19 with the hinge arm.

The ramp member 32 is here shown as formed by the lower flange 3.8 of the hinge bracket 35, and the follower member 33 is here shown as being inthe form of a plunger having a guided movement in guide means provided on the hinge arm 36. ln utilizing the lower flange 38 of the hinge bracket as the ramp member, this flange is canted or inclined from therhorizontal plane and occupies the relatively tilted position shown in FIG. 4 so that the ramp member 32 will slope in an uphill direction for movement of `the follower member 33 therealong in a direction toward the center line of the automobile body 13 which is the direction of the closing movement of the door 11. The angle of tilt of the ramp member 32 can be any suitable value and is selected to be appropriate for the requirements of the vehicle door in question, particularly with respect to the weight of the door and the direction and extent of inclination of the hinge axis. The ramp member 32 is preferably tilted or sloped in one direction only, and can therefore have a flat-plane thrust surface or element 51 on the top thereof for co-operation with the follower member 33.

The sliding engagement of the follower member 33 with the ramp member 32 can be a sliding engagement directly with the hat-plane thrust surface of the flange 3S, but preferably, the thrust element or surface 51 comprises a nonmetallic member made of a sui-table plastic material, such as nylon, and is preferably in the form of a substantially uniform-thickness layer of such plastic material which is secured to the ramp member and has the same tilt and fiat-plane thrust surface characteristic. The thrust element 51 is here shown as being of a curved or kidney-like shape in plan outline. The plastic material of the thrust element 51 is yieldable or resiliently flexible rather than hard or brittle. By the use of the plastic thrust element 51 of yieldable character' on the ramp member 32, the sliding engagement of the follower member thereon will have a desired uniform friction coeiiicient and will provide for a smooth and quiet functioning of the door holding device with minimum abrasion or wear on the ramp member.

The plastic thrust element 51 is flexible and resilient in character, rather than hard or brittle, and is sufficiently yieldable and pliable to be indented somewhat by the follower member 33 when the latter is in a rest position. This indentation by .the follower member is temporary only, inasmuch as the resilient character of the plastic causes the thrust element 51 to restore itself to a smooth and flat condition promptly after the follower member is moved away from such a rest position. The temporary indentation thereof causes the plastic thrust member 51 to provide a factor of additional resistance to movement of (the follower member away from a rest position, and thi-s added resistance factor contributes to the effectiveness of the holding device 1i) in developing or producing its primary holding action for holding the door 11 in any open position to which it is moved and left standing.

The plastic thrust element 51 can be secured on the ramp member 32 as by cementing, bonding, riveting or any other suitable attaching medium. In this instance, rivets 52 are shown for this purpose and extend through the plastic element 51 and the flange 38. 'Ihe'follower member 33 is guidedly supported by the iianges 44 and 45 of the hinge arm 36 by having its stem and head portions slidable in guide openings 56 and 57 provided in such flanges. The portion of the follower member which is in sliding engagement with the ramp member 32, or with the (thrust element 51 thereof, can be of any desired shape suitable for `the most satisfactory coopera-tion with the ramp member and the secondary holding means 31, but when the ramp member has the abovedescribed iiat-plane characteristic, the engaging portion of the follower member is preferably a cone-shaped Contact portion 59 on the head 55 and which cone-shaped contact portion will always provide at least a line contact with the flat-plane surface of the thrust element.

The door holding device 10 also includes a spring means, preferably a preloaded spring means, which is effective on the follower member 33` for pressing the same against the ramp member 32 and which spring means is here shown as being a coil spring 60 4disposed in surrounding relation to the stem 54. The upper end of the spring 60 is seated against the underside of the upper liange 44 of the hinge arm, and the lower end of the spring is seated against an annular shoulder 61 providedv by the exposed portion of the upper end of the head 55. The holding device preferably also includes a thrust washer 58 made of nylon or the like and interposed between the upper anges 37 and 44 of the hinge bracket `and hinge arm. The washer 58 carries the thrust reaction resulting from the expansive action of the spring 60, and from the co-operation of the follower member 33 with the ramp member 32, and contributes to a smooth and quiet functioning of the holding device.

From the construction of the door holding device 10 as above described, it will now be understood that during the swinging of the door 11 about the axis of the hinge pin 14, the follower member 33 will slide on the thrust element 51 of the ramp member 32 and the line contact of the follower member will follow or scribe an arcuate path on the thrust element. It will likewise be seen that, during the closing movement of the door 11, the follower member 33 will have an arcuate uphill sliding movement on the ramp member and that such sliding movement lwill be resisted by the uphill slope, by the friction between the ramp and follower members, and by the preloaded condition and loading flexure o-f the spring 60. These resistance factors for the closing swinging movement of the door will provide a substantially balanced condition for the door which will overcome the tendency of the door to fall shut and will cause the door to be held in any open position to which it is moved and left standing. Notwithstanding this balanced condition of the door, it will still -be readily movable to any other desired position by a mere pushing force or shove manually applied to the door.

It will also be seen that during the opening movement of the door, the follower member 33 will have a downhill sliding movement o-n the ramp member 3-2 andthe spring 60 will be subjected to an uloading iiexure. This downhill movement of the follower member and the thrust action and unloading flexure of the spring 60 will constitute assisting factors tending to assist the opening movement of the door.

As has been indicated above in a general way, the present invention provides the infinite-position holding device 1G with a secondary holding means or detent means 31 which develops or produces a secondary holding action for releasably holding the door 11 in an assured rest position. The secondary holding means or detent means 31 comprises, in its broadest aspect, some form of irregularity on the ramp member 32 and with which the follower member 33 is releasably engageable.

The secondary holding means 31 is shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 as comprising a detent element in the form of a hole or recess 62 in the ramp member 32 and with which the contact portion 59 of the follower member is engageable by movement of such contact portion partway into the recess. The recess62 is of a transverse dimension or diameter somewhat less than the transverse dimension or diameter of the follower member so that the follower member will be readily disengageable from the recess and will not become locked or jammed therein. The recess 62 can be located at any desired point of the path of the sliding movement of the follower member on the ramp member, corresponding with the desired locati-on for the rest position of the door in its arc of swing. As here shown, the recess 62 is preferably located at or adjacent the downhill end of such path so that the follower member will engage in the recess when the door approaches or reaches its fully-opened position shown in FIG. 3.

The portion of the ramp member 32, which forms the edgeof the recess 62 on the uphill side of the latter, provides a detent portion 63 in the form of an arcuate abutment edge or shoulder against which the follower member 33 bears, whenl the latter member is engaged in the recess, for releasably holding the door in the rest position. The follower member 33 is disengageable from the recess 62 by a mere push or shove manually applied to the door 11 in the closing direction and in response to which the follower member climbs or rides over the detent portion 63 to release the door from the rest position for a relatively free further closing movement in response to the manual push or shove of the operator. The abovementioned cone-like shape of the contact portion 59 facilitates this climbing or surmounting movement by which the follower member rides over the detent portion 63 in becoming disengaged from the detent means 31.

When the ramp member has a thrust element 51 formed by the above-mentioned layer of plastic material, the plastic thrust element includes a spanning portion 64 which extends in a continuous relation across the recess 62 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6. Because of the ilexibly yieldable character of the plastic thrust element 51, the spanning portion 64 thereof is adapted to be pushed or flexed into the recess 62 by the follower member when the latter arrives at a position overlying the j recess as shown in FIG. 6. The portion. of the plastic thrust element overlying the arcuate detent portion 63 of the ramp member also provides a detent portion 65 in the form of an arcuate abutment portion or shoulder which is engageable by the follower member and assists or supplements the detent portion 63 in releasably holding the door in the assured rest position.

The door holding means 1G preferably also embodies check means for limiting the opening movement of the door 11 when it arrives at its full-open position shown in FIG. 3. This check means is here shown as comprising a stop 66 in the form of a strap carried by the hinge bracket 35 and located in a position to be engaged by a portion of the hinge arm 36. The strap forming the stop 66 has liange portions 66a at the ends thereof which are secured, as by welding, in an overlying relation to the flanges 37 and 38 of the hinge bracket such that the strap also serves as a reinforcing means for the hinge bracket.

From the above description `of the secondary holding means it will be readily understood that the recess 62 and the detent portions 63 and 65 of the ramp member 32l constitute a detent means 31 which is releasably engageable by the follower member 33 for temporarily holding the door 11 in a desired or assured rest position. lt will also be seen that when the detent means 31 is located at or adjacent the downhill end of the path of the sliding movement of the follower member on the ramp member, it will be engageable by the follower member substantially simultaneously with the engagement of the hinge arm 36 with the check means E66. The co-operation of the follower member with the detent means will thus cause the door to be held in the desired res-t position with a sufliciently strong secondary holding force or action such that the door will remain in its full-open position until the operator initiates a closing movement. thereof by a manual push or shove and will not be likely to swing in the closing direction as a result of the vehicle standing in an inclined position or the action of a gust of wind against the door.

FIGS. 7 to l0 inclusive show a modified form of door holding means or device 70 which is generally similar to the door holding device 10` and wherein the same corresponding parts have `been designated by the same reference characters. In the modified holding device 70 a plastic thrust element 71 is also provided but is of a different form and size and the secondary holding means or detent means 72 is likewise of a different form.

The plastic thrust element 71 is similar to the thrust element 51 in that it has the same fiat-plane surface chart acteristic for the major portion of its length and is slidably engaged by the follower member 33, but is attached to the ramp member 32 by connecting lugs or rivets 73 extending through the ramp member and formed by integral portions of the plastic member itself. By reason of this form of attachment to the ramp member, the thrust element 71 can be of the relatively narrower width and smaller size shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 and the hinge bracket 35 can then also be of a smaller transverse dimension with the result that the modified holding device 70 can be of a smaller and more compact form more easily accommodated in the recess of the door support structure.

In the modified door holding device 70 the secondary holding means or detent means 72 comprises an irregularity provided on the plastic thrust element 71 and is in the form of a recess 74 formed therein. The recess 74 is located on the ramp member 32 in the same relative position as the detent means 31 of the holding device 10, that is to say, at or adjacent the downhill end of the path of sliding movement of the follower member 33 and is engageable by the latter, when the door approaches or arrives at its full-open position, for releasably holding the door in a corresponding full-open or assured rest position.

As shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, a portion of the plastic thrust element 71 forming one of the ed-ges of the recess 74 is a sloping portion providing a beveled shoulder or abutment edge 75 which is engageable by the head portion 55 of the follower member 33 for holding the door in the `assured rest position. The sloping abutment shoulder 75 is surmountable by the follower member 33 during disengagement of the follower member from the recess 74 and in response to a manual push or force applied to the door in its closing direction. FIG. 8 of the drawings shows the follower member 33 in its door-open position in the recess 74 and in engagement with the abutment edge 75, The cone-like shape of the lower end 59 of the follower member 33 facilitates the disengagement of the follower member from the detent recess 74.

The portion of the thrust element 71 which is located at the side of the detent recess 74 opposite from the abutment edge 75 is an angular portion 76 which extends in an upward and oppositely inclined relation to the ramp member 32 and forms a part of a check means embodied in the holding device 70, and which check means will now be described. The check means also comprises a stop 78 in the form of a strap Vcarried by the hinge bracket 35 and having substantially the same location as' the stop 66 of the door holding device 10.

The stop 78 is formed by a strap having upper and lower flange portionsl 7da and 78b at the ends thereof and secured, as by welding, in an overlying relation to the upper and lower anges 37 and 38 of the hinge bracket 35, such that the strap also serves as a reinforcing means for the hinge bracket. The portion of the strap adjacent the lower end thereof, that is the portion of the strap with which the lower ange 78b is integrally connected, is of an increased width as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 and forms a substantially right-angle corner portion 79 at the downhill end of the ramp member 32. The corner portion 79 provides a corner recess for receiving the inclined portion 76 of the thrust member 71.

The inclined portion 76 is seated against the corner portion 79 in a spanning relation to the corner recess as shown in FIG. 9. The inclined portion 76 is preferably provided on the underside thereof with a groove or channel S to reduce the thickness of, and the amount of material in, this portion of the thrust member and to facilitate the seating engagement of the inclined portion against the corner portion 79.

When the door attached to the hinge arm 36 arrives at its full-open position, the stop 78 is engaged by a portion of the hinge arm to check the opening movement of the door. lust prior to the engagement of the hinge arm with the stop 78, the follower member 33 cornes 8. into engagement with the inclined portion 76 of the thrust element 71 and, under the inertia effect of the door opening movement, is made to climb up the sloping surface of this inclined portion. The inclined portion 76 thus causes an upward camming of the follower member 33 which subjects the spring 60 to further loading. The resistance of the spring to such further loading produces a rst checking action for the opening movement of the door.

During and following this upward camming of the follower member 33, this member pushes against the inclined portion 76 and against the fiat upper end portionv 76a of the latter, as a stop or abutment means, thereby producing a second door checking action for the opening movement of the door. It will be understood that these checking actions or factors provided by the engagement of the follower member 33 with the portions 76 and 76a as an abutment means, and the tendency of the follower member to climb the sloping surface of the inclined portion 76, beco-me effective in retarding the opening movement of the door just prior to the hinge arm coming into engagement with the stop 78.

The check means provided in the door holding device 70 includes still another stop or abutment means on the hinge bracket 35 and which i-s here shown as being in the form of a hook-shaped portion 82 provided on the upper ange 37 and engageable by the upper end portion of the stem 54 of the follower member 33. The hookshaped stop 82 has a recess 82a of a concave curvature therein to receive one side of the follower stem 54. The stop 82 isv located so that the stern 54 comes into engagement with the curved edge 82a substantially simultaneously with the engagement of the hinge arm 36 with the stop 78.

'Ilhe modified door holding device 70 includes still another novel feature comprising a relief means 83 for releasing the holding action developed between the ramp member 32 and the follower member 33 when movement of the door, free of the holding action, is desired. Such a relief means can be located at any desired point along the plastic thrust member 71, but is particularly useful at or adjacent the door-closed end of the path of movement of the follower member, that is to say, at or adjacent the uphill end of the thrust member. The relief means 83 is shown in this location in FIGS. 7 to l() inclusive and renders the holding action of the ram-p and follower members substantially -inelective when the door approaches its closed position to facilitate an assured movement of the door to its fully closed position with minimum attention and effort on the part of the operator of t-he vehicle.

FIGS. 7 to l0 inclusive of the drawings show the relief means 83 as comprising a recess 84 formed in Ithe plastic thrust member 71 and having a sloping bottom wall 85 extending in an angular or inclined relation to the plane of the thrust element, such that when the follower member 33 arrives at the recess 8:4 and moves along the bottom wall 85 thereof in the door closing direction, the holding action between the ramp member and follower member will be nulllilfied or partially nullified. It will thus be seen that whenever closing movement of the doo-r causes the follower member 33 to enter the recess 84 of the relief means 83, the slope of the bottom wall 85 will tend to facilitate movement of the follower member along such bottom wall for causing the door to continue to move in the closing direction and thus insure movement of the door to its fully closed position. The phantom line showing 338L of FIGS. 8, 9 and l0 represent the position of the follower member when it has entered the recess 84 and is moving toward, or has arrived at, its door-closed position.

FIGS. 1'1 and l2 of the drawings show still another embodiment 87 off the door holding means of this invention and which is very similar to the door holding means 70 just described above. Por-tions of the door holding means v87 of FIGS. l1 and 12 which correspond with portions of the door holding means 70 have been designated by the same reference characters. The door holding means 87 dilferes from the door holding means 70 in that the abutment edge 8S formed by the beveled portion 89 of the thrust element '71 is of a different shape than the abutment edge 75 of the holding device 70. The abutment edge 8S is of a substantially V-shaped form as shown in FIGS. 11 and l2 with the sides 90 and 91 of the V-shape converging to an yapex 92 pointing away from the recess 74 and in the uphill direction of the ramp member 32. The use of an abutment edge 83 of the above-described V-shape has the advantage that the coneshaped tip 59 of the Ifollower member 33 will have two points of engagement 93 and 94 with the abutment edge, as shown in FIG. l1, instead of a single point of engagement.

From the accompanying drawings and the foregoing detailed description it will now be readily understood that this invention provides novel door holding means for an automobile doo-r or the like wherein a secondary holding means or detent means embodied in an inniteposition type of door holding device provides for releaseably holding the door in an assured rest position. It will now also be seen that this invention provides an infinite-position type of door holding device in which relief means incorporated in the device relieves the holding action at a desired point of the relative travel for facilitating a desired movement of the door. Additionally, it will now be understood that the invention provides such an infinite-position type of door holding device which has novel check means incorporated therein for checking the door opening movement.

Although the door holding devices of this invention have 'been illustrated and described herein to a somewhat detailed extent it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not to be regarded as being limited correspondingly in scope but includes all changes and modifications coming within the terms of the claims hereof.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In an automobile or the like having a support structure and an associated door structure; hinge means connecting said structures and `comprising a hinge bracket connected with said support structure and a hinge arm connected with said door structure; said hinge means having `a hinge axis inclined from the vertical and providing for swinging of said door structure with a normal tendency to swing in a given direction; ramp means carried by said hinge bracket; follower means on said hinge arm and slidably pressed against sai-d ramp means; said ramp means having a thrust portion providing a substantially continuous follower path for the sliding en-gagement by said follower means and being sloped so that the sliding of said follower means thereon is an uphill travel during the movement of said door structure in said given direction for resisting said normal tendency to swing; spring means acting to press said follower means against said ramp means for maintaining the sliding engagement therebetween; the resistance to sliding of said follower means on said ramp means providing a substantially balanced condition for said door stnucture and being effective to hold sta-id door structure in any ope-n position to which it is moved; and detent means on said ramp means and engageable by said follower means for releasably holding said door structure in an assured rest position.

2. In an automobile or the like having door holding means comprising cooperating ramp means and follower means as defined in claim l, and wherein said detent means is located relatively closer to the downhill end of said path than to the uphill end thereof.

3. In an automobile or the like having door holding means comprising ctn-operating ramp means and follower means as dened in claim 1, and wherein said ramp means comprises plastic thrust means slidably engaged l0 by said follower means; said detent means being formed at least in part by said plastic thrust means and being 1ocated relatively closer to the downhill end of said path than to the uphill end thereof.

4. In an automobile or the like having door holding means comprising co-operating ramp means and follower means -as dened in claim l, and wherein said ramp means comprises plastic thrust means slidably engaged by said follower means, and said detent means comprises a recess in said plastic .thrust means and said follower means comprises a plunger engageable in said recess.

5. In an automobile or the like having idoor holding means comprising co-operating ramp means and `follower means Ias defined in claim 1, and wherein said support structure has a recess therein; said hinge bracket, ramp means, follower means and detent means being all located in said recess of said support structure.

6. In an automobile or the like having a support structure `and an lassociated door structure; hinge means connecting said door structure with said support structure for swinging to open and closed positions; said hinge means providing a hinge axis which is inclined from the vertical so that said door structure has a normal tendency to swing in a given direction; holding means for said door structure comprising ramp means associated with one of said structures and follower means associated with the other of said structures and slidably pressed against said ramp means by movement of the follower means in a direction substantially parallel to the hinge axis; said ramp means comprising a flat thrust portion lying substantially in a plane extending transverse to said hinge axis and providing `a substantially continuous follower path for the sliding engagement by said follower means; said ramp means being disposed with the said thrust portion located in a predetermined inclined angular relation so said hinge axis so that `an uphill relative sliding between the ramp means and follower means resists said normal tendency of said door structure to swing in said given direction, and the resistance to the relative sliding between said ramp means and follower means is effective to hold the door structure in any open 4position to which it is moved; and check means at the door-open end of said path and engageable by said follower means in response to opening movement of said door structure; said check means comprising a sloping abutment extending -in `an inclined angular relation to the plane of said ramp means and climbable by said follower means.

7. In an automobile or the like having a support structure `and an associated door structure; hinge means connecting said `door structure with said support structure for swinging to open and closed positions; said hinge means providing a hinge axis which is inclined from the vertical so that said `door structure has a normal tendency to swing in a given direction; holding means for said door structure comprising ramp means lassociated with one of said structures `and follower means associated with the other of said structures and slidable on said ramp means along a path extending at least part way around said hinge axis; preloaded spring means effective on said follower means for preparing the same against said ramp means; said ramp means comprising a at thrust portion lying substantially in a plane extending transverse to said hinge axis and disposed in a predetermined inclined angular relation to said hinge axis so that an uphill relative sliding between said ramp means and follower means resists said normal tendency of said door structure to swing in said given direction, and the resistance to the relative sliding between the ramp means and follower means being effective to hold the door structure in any open position to which it is moved; and check means at the dooropen end of said path yand engageable by said follower means in response to opening movement of said door structure; said check means comprising a sloping abutment extending in an inclined angular relation to the plane of said ramp means and climbable by said follower means;

11 said spring means being subjected to increased loading in response to climbing of said abutment by said follower means for increasing the effectiveness of said check means.

8. In an automobile or the like having door holding means and check' means as defined in claim 6 and wherein said ramp means comprises a plastic thrust means slidably engaged by said follower means; and wherein the abutment of said check means is formed by a portion of said plastic thrust means.

9. In an automobile or the like having a support struc- Iture and an associated door structure; hinge means connecting said structures to provide for swinging of the door structure about a hinge axis and comprising a hinge bracket connected with said support structure and a hinge arm connected with said door structure; said hinge means being disposed with said axis inclined from the vertical so that said door structure has a normal tendency to swing in a given direction; said bracket having spaced Walls; holding means for said door structure comprising ramp means on one of said walls and follower means on said hinge arm comprising a plunger movable relative to said `arm and in a direction substantially parallel to said axis; said ramp means comprising a flat thrust por tion lying substantially in a plane extending transverse to said hinge axis and providing a substantially continuous follower path for the sliding engagement of said ramp means by one portion of said plunger; said ramp means being disposed with said thrust portion located `in a predetermined inclined angular relation to said hinge axis so that an uphill relative sliding between said ramp means and said one plunger portion resists said normal tendency of said'door structure `to swing in said given direction, and the resistance to sliding of said one plunger portion on said ramp means provides a substantially balanced condition for said door structure and is effective to hold said door structure in any open position to which it is moved; spring means effective on said plunger for pressing said one plunger portion against said ramp means to maintain said sliding engagement; and check means for checking the opening movement of said door structure and comprising a first abutment means on said bracket adjacent one end of said path and engageable by said one plunger portion, and a second abutment means on the other of said Walls and engageable by another portion of said plunger.

10. In an automobile or the like having door holding means comprising co-operating ramp means and follower means as define-d in claim 9, and wherein the portion of said ramp means slidably engaged by said one plunger portion comprises a plastic thrust means; and wherein said first abutment means is formed by a portion of said plastic thrust means.

1l. ln an automobile or the like having a body including door support structure and an associated door structure; hinge means connecting said structures for swinging of the door structure and providing a hinge axis inclined from the vertical so that the door structure has a normal tendency to fall shut; holding means for said door structure comprising co-operating ramp means and follower means associated vwith the respective structures and having a slidable relative traversing engagement with each other throughout the swinging movement of said door structure; said follower means being shiftable in opposite directions along a follower axis offset from said hinge axis; said ramp means having a flat thrust portion on which the relative sliding of said follower means takes place along a path extending at least part Way around said hinge axis; spring means effective of said follower means lfor pressing the same against said thrust portion; said thrust portion lying substantially in a plane extending transverse to said follower axis and disposed in a predetermined inclined angular relation thereto so that the sliding of said follower means on saidithrust portion is an uphill travel during the closing 12 movement of said door structure forresisting said tendency to fall shut; the resistance to the relative sliding of said follower means on said thrust portion providing a substantially balanced condition for said door structure and being effective to normally hold said door struc# turem in any open position to which it is moved and left standing; and detent means at one point of said path and comprised at least in part by a portion of said ramp means and being engageable by said follower means for releasably holding said door structure in an assured rest position.

l2. In an automobile or the like having door holding means as defined in claim l1 wherein said follower means has iirst and second terminal positions at opposite ends of said path corresponding with full-open and door-closed positions of said door structure; and wherein said detent means is located at said frst terminal position.

13. In an automobile or the like having door holding means as defined in claim ll wherein said follower means has a terminal position adjacent the downhill end of said path corresponding with the full-open posi tion of said door structure; and wherein said detent means comprises recess means in said ramp means and in which a portion of said follower means is receivable.

14. In an automobile or the like having door holding means as defined in claim l1 wherein said ramp means comprises plastic means and said detent means is formed at least in part by a portion of said plastic means.

l5. In an automobile or the like having door holding means as idened in claim 1l wherein said hinge means comprises a hinge bracket connected to said support structure, and a hinge arm connected to said door structure and having spaced flanges provided with guide openings; said ramp means comprising a flange portion on said ybracket and said follower means comprising plungerV means reciprocably movable in said guide openings; and wherein said spring means is in engagement with said plunger means and located between said flanges.

16. In an automobile or the like having door holding means as defined in claim l5 wherein said thrust portion of the ramp means comprises plastic sheet means attached to `said flange portion; and wherein said detent means is formed at least in part Aby a portion of said plastic sheet means.

17. In an automobile or the like having a body including door support structure and an associated door structure; hinge means connecting said structures for swinging of the `door structure and providing a hinge axis inclined from the vertical so that the door structure has a normal tendency to fall shut; holding means for said door structure comprising co-operating ramp means and follower means associated with the respective structures and having a slidable relative traversing engagement with each other throughout the swinging 'movement of said door structure; said follower means being movable in opposite directions along a follower axis offset from said hinge axis; said ramp means having a flat thrust por-y tion on which the relative sliding of said follower means takes place along a path extending at least part way around said hinge axis; spring means effective on said follower means for pressing the same against said thrust portion; said thrust portion lying substantially in a plane extending transverse to said follower axis and disposed in a predetermined inclined angular relation thereto so that the sliding of said follower means on said thrust portion is an uphill travel during the closing movement of said 'door structure for resisting said tendency to fall shut; the resistance to the relative sliding of said follower means on said thrust portion providing a substantially balanced condition for said door structure and being effective to normally hold said door structure in any open position to which it is moved and left standing; said follower means having first and second terminal positions at opposite ends of said path corresponding with full-open and door-closed positions of said door structure; and relief 13 means comprising recess means in said ramp means and located adjacent said second terminal position; said follower means being receivable in said recess means to diminish the co-operative holding yaction of said ramp means and follower means for facilitating the movement of said door structure to said door-closed position.

18. In an automobile or the like having door holding means as defined in claim l1 wherein said lfollower means has first and second terminal positions at opposite ends of said path corresponding with full-open and doorclosed positions of said door structure; said detent means heing located at said rst terminal position; and wherein said ramp means has relief means thereon comprising recess means in said thrust portion and located adjacent said second terminal position; said follower means being receivable in said recess means 'for faciliating the movement of said door structure to said door-closed position.

19. In an automobile or the like having door holding means comprising cfr-operating ramp means and follower means as dened in claim 17 wherein said lthrust portion comprises plastic means and said relief means comprises preformed recess means in said plastic means.

20. In an automobile or the like having `door holding means comprising co-operating ramp means `and follower means as defined in claim l1 wherein said thrust portion comprises flexible plastic means; and wherein said detent means comprises recess means in said ramp means, and a portion or said plastic means overlying said recess means and deformable into the latter by said follower means.

21. In an automobile or the like having door holding means comprising cro-operating ramp means and follower means as dened in claim l1 wherein said thrust portion `comprises flexible plastic means, and said follower means comprises plunger means engaged hy said spring means; and wherein said detent means comprises a portion of said plastic means overlying said recess means and deformable into the latter by said plunger means.

22. In an automobile or the like having door holding means comprising co-operating ramp means and follower means as defined in claim 21 wherein said plunger means includes a plunger portion of greater transverse dimension than the width of the opening of said recess means.

23. In an lautomobile or the like having door holding means as deiined in claimy l1 wherein said thrust portion comprises plastic means and said detent means cornprises a preformed recess in said plastic means; said follower means having a convex contact portion receivable in said recess; and wherein portions of said plastic means on one side of said recess comprise bevel portions rising from the hottom of the recess for facilitating disengagement of said follower means from the recess; said bevel portions including a common yapex pointing away from said recess and lying on said path.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,095,866 Hallenbeck Oct. 12, 1937 2,246,086 Austin lune 17, 1-941 2,342,531 Dean Feb. 22, 1944 2,804,181 Haynes Aug. 27, 1957 

